ARE you letting your creative juices run dry? Take inspiration from these Teesside women carving their place on the region’s art scene. Marie Turbill met them.

TEESSIDE’S creative industries sector continues to grow - from computer games design and digital development to public art and great galleries.

And many are taking a creative path as a means to a new career.

Among them is Michelle Parratt.

You might not know the name, but you may have seen her work - in fact you could have trodden on it.

The former flooring designer laughs as she tells us the floor in Costa Coffee is one of her designs.

She’s even spotted her work on her travels around the world.

“I was staying in a hostel in New Zealand and they had just redecorated, I looked down and it was my floor,” she says with a laugh.

“You can usually spot your own designs.”

Those creations were on cushion vinyl and Michelle, who is originally from Sheffield, was working as a designer for global flooring giants Amtico Company and then Armstrong World Industries, a career move which first brought her to Teesside.

It makes for a varied CV for the adopted Middlesbrough girl who, after taking time out from her career to go globe-trotting, returned to Teesside and can now be found in The Corner Emporium in The Mall, Middlesbrough, showcasing, and selling, a whole variety of her own work under the label Just Me by Michelle Parratt.

She’s no longer just about flooring, her collection includes canvases, jewellery, gifts and accessories.

She has even taken up knitting in order to diversify the range.

“After travelling I knew I wanted to stay in the North-east so I took a job in retail,” says the 37-year-old.

But two years ago she took a leap of faith and left to go freelance.

“I have had my work in Gallery TS1 and have been working in schools around Middlesbrough doing art workshops with children.”

Bagging a prime spot in the window of Middlesbrough pop-up shop, The Corner Emporium, has enabled her to really showcase her work.

There until June, she says: “I would love to have my own shop, selling my work.”